Machine for bending plates



E. L. TlNl EY ET AL MACHINE FOR BENDING PLATES Oct. 2, 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 50, 1949 Oct. 2, 1951 E. L. TlNLEY ET AL2,569,962

MACHINE FOR BENDING PLATES Filed Mamh 30, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wvsA/rmsE $4 Oct. 2, 1951 E. L. TINLEY ET AL MACHINE FOR BENDING PLATES 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 30, 1949 l/WEA/TOPS.

1951 E. TINLEY ET AL 2,569,962

MACHINE FOR BENDING PLATES Fi led Mafch so, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 51,2420% QM M 42 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 2,569,962 MACHINE FOR BENDINGPLATES Ernest Lambert Tinley and Frank Cartwright, Wolverhampton,England, assignors to Joshua Bigwood & Son, Limited, Wolverhampton,England, a British company Application March 30, 1949, Serial No. 84,456In Great Britain April 21, 1948 '9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for bending plates, the machine beingof the kind comprising three parallel rolls, two of these usually beingdisposed side by side in spaced relationship, and the third usuallybeing disposed at a higher level midway between th two lower rolls, allthe rolls usually being disposed horizontally, and the plate to be bentbeing passed above the lower two rolls and below theupper roll, thelower part of the periphery of which projects down into the spacebetween the lower rolls. Machines of this kind are commonly used forbending fiat plates into tubular form, and when the operation iscomplete, in order to remove the work from th rolls itis necessary tomove away the supporting bearing at one end of the upper rollso that thework can be removed with an endwise movement.

Owing to the weightof the upper roll and consequent pressure on thesupporting hearing at its end, it is not convenient to move the saidbearing or bearingsupport away from the roll without first relieving thebearing or bearing support of the pressure due to the weight of theroll, and for this reason it is known to provide the upper roll with anextension at the opposite end; such extension commonly terminating in aball head which can be acted upon in a downward direction apower-operated slide for the purpose of relieving the bearing or bearinghousing at the opposite end of the roll of pressure so as to allow thebearing or hearing housing to be moved away In machines having thisprovision it is usual to leave the actual bearing on the end of the rolland to mount the bearing housing in a lever pivoted on a horizontal axisat a position below the end of theroll, and means are provided wherebythis lever can be swung either by hand operation or power operation soas to move the bearing housing away from the bearing, thus making itpossible to remove the work in an endvvisie movement.

Further, in machinesof the kind referred to the upper roll is supportedin two. bearings, and provision is made; for raising and lowering thesebear'iii'gs, and after the blending of the work has been completed it isthe practice first to raise these two bearings and then to operate theslide which presses the ball end of the roll extension downwardly torelieve the pressure on the bearing housing at the opposite end of theroll. The bearing housing is then swung away and the work can beremoved.

Further, it is known to operate the slide by mechanical means, such asjacking screws operated by an electric motor, and in practice during theoperation of the machine the slide is disposed in spaced relationshipabove the ball head so that when the motor -is switched on the slide isbrought down by the tacking screws into contact with the l ball head.After that position has been reached it is necessary to run the motorfor a further short period to produce the downward pressure on the ballhead, but there is considerable danger that the motor may be allowed torun for too long a period, producing upward pressure at the opposite endof the roll and making it impossible to remove the bearing housingtherefrom.

After the slide has been moved down into contact with the upper side ofthe ball head there is no further visible movement and it is a matter oftrial and error for the operator to determine when to switch oif themotor.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means tocontrol the motor employed for producing the downward pressure on theball head, and to eliminate trial and error in this matter so that thepressure on the hearing at the opposite end of the top roll issufficiently relieved to enable the bearing housing at that end to beremoved. The present invention also provides means whereby overrunningof the motor and consequent damage to the machine is avoided.

According to the present invention in a machine of the kind specified anelectric control device is provided which operates on the mechanismproducing downward pressure on the ball head of the shaft extension ofthe top roll, the control device comprising a motor switch for stoppingthe motor driving the said mechanism when the required degree ofpressure on the end of the shaft extension has been obtained, suchswitch being opened by a member which is moved along a path, the openingof the switch taking place 'at the end of the movement of said memher,and said member being automatically set in action by means operated at agiven point in the movement of the slide or member which engages theball head of the shaft extension. Preferably the arrangement is suchthat the length of the path of movement through which the member whichopens the switch moves can be varied.

We may for instance provide a threaded control shaft which is set inaction by an electrically operated clutch controlled by a clutch switchwhich is closed at a selected point in the movement of the slide ormember which engages the ball head, the said control shaft havingmounted thereon a carriage which incorporates a nut with which the shaftengages. this carriage being prevented from rotating, and consequentlymoving along the shaft, and being provided with means for operating themotor switch.

The clutch switch may be mounted on the slide or member which engagesthe end of the shaft, the said switch having an operating member whichis displaced when it comes into contact with the shaft so "as to closethe switch. Alternatively, the switch may be mounted on a bracket 3 andits operating member may be actuated by a projection on the slide ormember which engages the ball head.

In a further alternative the motor switch may be mounted on the carriagewhich is moved by the control shaft, and the motor switch may beoperated by arranging for its operating member to come into contact withan abutment mounted on the frame of the machine.

In a construction in which the motor switch is opened by the carriage onthe control screw, the carriagemay be provided with a cam-like portionfor engaging the operating 'member of the motor switch.

Further, the carriage may be provided with an indicating arm adapted tocooperate with a mark onan adjustable indicator block so that theinitial position of the carriage can be accurately set. Themachine maycomprise a driving motor driving jacking means for operating a slidemoving transversely to the shaft extension of the top roll and adaptedto engage and produce downward pressure upon the ball head of the shaftextension, a threaded control shaft disposed parallel to the shaft ofthe motor, an electricallyoperated clutch for driving the threadedcontrol shaft, the driving member of the clutch being driven by gearingfrom the motor shaft, a carriage on the threaded control shaftincorporating a nut which engages the shaft, means to prevent therotation of the carriage on the shaft, a motor switch, means on thecarriage for opening the switch when the carriage reaches thepredetermined position, an adjustable indicator block adjustableparallel to the control shaft, an indicator arm on the carriage, andmeans on the slide for closing a switch in the circuit controlling theelectrically-operated clutch, whereby the length of travel of the saidcarriage from its starting point to the position at which it opens themotor switch can be varied.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Figure 3 isa part-section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

v Figure 4 is a section on line 4-.4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation showing the control means.

Figure 6 is a section on line 65 of Figure 5.

Figures 1 and 2 are drawn to a smaller section than the remainder of thefigures.

In the construction illustrated the machine comprises aframe formed bytwo pairs of channel-section girders N3, the girders of each pair beingarrangedback to back, and these pairs of girders being connected bytransverse members ll, I2, which at their upper parts are provided withbearings l3 for the lower rolls l4, l5.

The members H and I2 are provided with vertical parallel guide faces I6formed at the sides ofarvertical recess, and slidably mounted in therecess in the member I2 is the lower part of a bearing housing Ii forthe upper roll. The member l I is similarly constructed and receives thelower part It! of a support IQ for the bearing 20 at the opposite end ofthe top roll 2|. The bearing 20 incorporates a two-part sleeve 22enclosed in the bearing housing 23. The part H3 is pivotally connectedat 24 to a pin 25 which has a threaded portion 26 on which is a wormwheel 21 adapted to be driven by a worm 45 on a shaft 44. The worm Wheel21 is mounted on a. 1. 1 1

2B and it is supported in hearings in a three-part box 29, thrustbearings 30 and 3| being provided between the ends of the box and theworm wheel hub. The arrangement is such that when the worm wheel 21 isdriven the pin 25 is raised or lowered for raising or lowering the toproll 2|. The bearing housin I! supporting the top roll 2| at theopposite end is similarly mounted for up and down movement.

The bearing support I9 can be swung down about the axis of the pivot 24,leaving the bearing 20 in position on the top roll. This movement iseffected after the work has been completed and the top roll 2| has beenraised by raising the bearing supports l! and IS. The bearing support I9is provided with aportion 32 having slots 33 at the sides which areengaged by trunnions 34 carried by levers 35 pivotally mounted at 36 toa shaft 21 support in lugs 38 on the transverse member H, and thearrangement is such that movement can be imparted to the levers 35either by hand or bypowers If power operation is required the shaft ispro vided with a quadrant 39 which is adapted to be driven by a pinion40 on a shaft 4| supported in bearings on the machine frame, the shaft4| being adapted to be driven by a. motor 42 A further motor 43 ismounted on the machine frame and is adapted to drive through gearing adriving shaft 44 upon which are mounted worms 45 for driving the wormwheels 21 for raising and lowering the bearings of the upper roll 2| Inorder that the downward pressure on the surface 46 of the bearingsupport I9 may be relieved to allow the member I9 to be swung downwardlyclear of the bearing 20, and in order that the top roll 2| may continueto be supported after the bearing support l9 has been swung down, thetop roll 2| is provided with an extension 41 which terminates in a ballhead 48. This ball head is adapted to be acted upon by a part-sphericalsurface 49 on a member 50 which is mounted to slide up and down. Themember 50 is mounted upon a horizontal pin 5| carried by twoslidingpillars 52 acted upon by screw and nut gear so that the pin 5| can beraised and lowered. The arrangement is such that duringrthe bending ofthe plate the surface 49 is spaced above the top of the ball head 48 sothat the top roll and its extension 41 can be raised by raising thebearing supports VH and I9 after the bending has been completed, Themember 5|! is then lowered to engage the upper side of the ball head 48so as to'relieve the pressure on the surface 46 and to allow the bearingsupport If; to be swung downwardly, thus permitting the work to beremoved with an endwise movement. The upper roll 2| continues to besupported in a horizontal position while the work is being removed,permitting the bearing support H] to be returned to its workingposition, after which the member 50 is raised, fresh work is insertedbetween the two lower rolls and the upper. roll, and the bearingsupports l1 and I!) are lowered to bring the upper roll into'engagementwith the work.

The members 52 are acted upon by screw and. nut gear operated by a motor53, this motor driving a motor shaft 54 which operates the screw and nutgear.

Brackets 55 are provided on the machine frame, and these brackets carry'a further bracket 55 on. which is mounted a motor switch :arefurther'brackets 60,51 and -62, and mounted in these brackets forrotation is ,a threaded con-- :trol .shaftfifi adapted to be coupled byan elec- 'trioallyeoperated clutch 4 to a driving member cfi-suppor=tedin the bracket :66 and connected by gearing 66 to thelmotor shaft .54.

The brackets BI and 62 are provided with upweirdly-projecting arms 51and .:68 carrying a shaft '59 which is parallel to the control shaft 63.Mounted on the threaded control shaft 263 is a carriage ill. Thiscarriageincorporates a nut which engages "the thread of the shaft, and

"the carriage has an arm H which engages .a spindle 12, carried by thebrackets 51 and *62, which is parallel to but offset from the controlshaft 63. Thus, the carriage cannot rotate so that when the controlshaft 63 is driven the carriage '10 moves along the shaft. The arm 1! isprovided with an indicator arm 13 which cooperates which a mark 14 on anadjustable in- :dicator block 215 slidably mounted on the shaft 69 andadapted to be locked thereto by a set screw 16.

The electrically-operated clutch 84 is controlled by a switch 1'!mounted on the member 50 and moving therewith, and this switch isprovided with an operating member 18 having a roller 19.

In operation, after a piece of "work has been completed, the bearingsupports l1 and I 9 are raised by the means described, and after theyhave been raised the motor 53 is set in action to cause downwardmovement ofthe member 5!! until the surface 49 engages the upper surfaceof the ball head 48. When this position is reached the roller 19 comesinto contact with the upper side of the tapering part 80 of the top rollextension l'l, and the switch Tl is closed, causing theelectrically-operated clutch 64 to be engaged. The threaded controlshaft 63 is then rotated by the gearing 65;, causing the carria e 1!] tomove towards the right, as shown in Figure 5, until it comes intoengagement with the roller 59 and opens the motor switch 51, thusstopping the motor 53 and arresting any further downward movement of themember 50.

The downward pressure applied to the upper side of the ball head 48 thusdepends upon the length of travel of the carriage 1!] between itsinitial position and the position reached when it opens the motorswitch, and this travel can be set to known requirements by adjustingthe indicator block 55 along the shaft 69. I

By this means the exact degree of pressure required on the ball head torelieve pressure on the surface as can be obtained after every bendingoperation, assuming that after each operation the carriage ill is re-setso that its indicating arm is in alignment with the mark 14.

The lower rolls are driven by a driving gear wheel 85 on a motor-drivenshaft, this gear wheel engaging further gear wheels 82, one on each ofthe lower rolls. 1

What we claim now is:

1. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which ashaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by ap0wer-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and itssupport at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a drivingmotor for said pressing member, an electric control device for saiddriving motor comprising a guideway, a car- 1 riage member movable uponsaid guideway, and means operable to EdIiVB the carriage along the.guideway, said means being coupled -to said driving motor and operatingin timed relation thereto, means operable by said carriage memher forstoppingthe driving motor of the pressing member, starting meansoperable for setting in action the :drivingcmeans for saidcarriagememher, and means for operating said starting meansautomatically at a given point in the downward movement of the pressingmember.

'2. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which ashaft extension at one end of the top roll i acted upon by apower-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and itssupport at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a drivingmotor for said pressing member, an electric control device for saiddriving motor of said pressing member comprising a guideway, a carriagemember movable upon said guideway, means operable to drive the carriagealong the guideway, said means being coupled to said driving motor andoperating in timed relationship thereto, a motor switch operable by saidcarriage member at the end of its movement along the guideway to stopthe driving motor of the pressing member when the required degree ofpressure is applied to the shaft extension, adjustable means for markinga starting position of said carriage member on its guideway, startingmeans operable for setting in action the driving means for said carriagemember, and means for operating said starting means automatically at agiven point in the downward movement of the pressing member.

3. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which ashaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by apower-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and itssupport at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a drivingmotor for said pressing member, an electric control device for saiddriving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon saidguideway, an internally threaded nut on said carriage, a threaded shaftengaging said nut and disposed parallel with the guideway, means forrotating said shaft, said means being coupled to said driving motor andoperating in timed relationship thereto, a motor switch operable by saidcarriage member at the end of its movement along the guideway to stopthe driving motor of the pressing member when the required degree ofpressure is applied to the shaft extension, starting means operable forsetting in action the rotation of said shaft, and means for operatingsaid starting means automatically at a given point in the downwardmovement of the pressing memher.

4. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which ashaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by apoweroperated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and itssupport at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a drivingmotor for said pressing member, an electrical control device for saiddriving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon saidguideway, an internally threaded nut on said carriage, a threaded shaftengaging said nut and disposed parallel with the guideway, means forrotating said shaft, said means being coupled to said driving motor andoperating in timed relationship thereto, a motor switch operable by saidcarriage member at the end of its movement along the guideway to stopthe driving motor of the pressing member when the required degree ofpressure is applied to the shaft extension, adjustable means for markinga starting position of said carriage member on its guideway, startingmeans Operable for setting in action the rotation of said threadedshaft, said starting means beingautomatically operable at a given pointin the downward movement of said pressing member.

5. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which ashaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by apower-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and itssupport at the other end of the top roll,

the provision of a driving motor for said pressing member, an electriccontrol device for said driving motor comprising a guideway, a carriagemember movable upon said guideway, an internally threaded nut on saidcarriage, a threaded shaft engaging said nut and disposed parallel withthe said guideway, means for rotating said shaft, said means beingcoupled to said driving motor and operating in timed relationshipthereto, a cam-like portion on said carriage, a motor switch, anoperating member on said switch actuatable by said cam-like portion ofthe carriage to open the switch at the end of the movement of thecarriage and stop the driving motor of the pressing member when therequired degree of pressure is applied to the shaft extension,adjustable means for marking a starting position of said carriage memberon its guide- Way, starting means operable for setting in action therotation of said threaded shaft and means for operating said startingmean automatically at a given point in the downward movement of thepressure member.

6. In a three-r011 sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which ashaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by apower-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and itssupport at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a drivingmotor for said pressing member, an electric control device for saiddriving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon saidguideway, and means operable to drive the carriage along the guideway,said means being coupled to said driving motor and operating in timedrelationship thereto, means operable by said carriage member forstopping the driving motor of the pressing member, an indicator blockadjacent said guideway adjustable parallel thereto, and a datum mark onsaid block, an indicator arm on said carriage alignable with said datummark, whereby the starting position of said carriage can be accuratelyset and the distance between said datum mark and the means for stoppingthe driving motor can be varied, starting meansoperable for setting inaction the driving means for said carriage member, and means foroperating said starting means automatically at a given point in thedownward movement of the pressing member. 7

7. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which ashaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by apower-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and itssupport at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a drivingmotor for said pressing member, an electric control device for saiddriving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon saidguideway, an internally threaded nut on said carriage, a threaded shaftengaging said nut'and disposed parallel with said guideway, a motorswitch operable by said carriage member to stop the driving motor of thepressing member, electrically operable clutch means for drivablyconnecting said threaded shaft with said driving motor, switch meansclosable to effect engagement of said clutch and means for closing saidswitch means at a given point in the downward movement of the pressingmember.

8. In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which ashaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by apower-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and itssupport at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a drivingmotor for said pressing member, an electric control device for saiddriving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon saidguideway, an internally threaded nut on said carriage, a threaded shaftengaging said nut and disposed parallel with said guideway, a motorswitch operable by said carriage member to stop the driving motor of thepressing member, electrically operable clutch means for drivablyconnecting said threaded shaft with said driving motor, switch meanson'the pressing member closable to effect engagement of said clutch andan operating member for said switch means on said pressing memberactuatable b contact with the shaft extension during the downwardmovement of the pressing member;

9; In a three-roll sheet metal bending machine of the kind in which ashaft extension at one end of the top roll is acted upon by apower-operated pressing member to relieve pressure on a bearing and itssupport at the other end of the top roll, the provision of a drivingmotor for said pressing member, an electric control device for saiddriving motor comprising a guideway, a carriage member movable upon saidguideway, an internally threaded nut on'said carriage, a threaded shaftengaging said nut and disposed parallel with said guideway, a cam-likeportion on said carriage, a motor switch, an operating member on saidswitch, actuatable by said cam-like portion of the carriage to open theswitch and stop the motor driving the pressing member, electricallyoperable clutch means for drivably connecting said threaded shaft withsaid driving motor,

switch means on the pressing member closable to effect engagement ofsaid clutch and an operating member for said switch means thereuponactuatable by contact with and displacement by the shaft extensionduring the downward movement of the pressing member, an indicator blockadjacent said guideway adjustable parallel thereto and a datum mark onsaid block, an indicator arm on said carriage alignable with said datummark whereby the starting position of said carriage can be accuratelyset, and the distance between said datum mark and the motor switch canbe varied by adjustment of the block, to vary the amountof travel ofsaid carriage and produce a required degree of pressure by the pressingmember on the shaft extension. 7

ERNEST LAMBERT TINLEY. FRANK CARTWRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file ofthis patent: l

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 549,317 Germany Apr. 26, 1932554,363 Germany July 8, 1932

